Zhao fights back to level world championship quarter-final against Murphy

Defending champion recovers to level up at 8-8

Allen and Hawkins also all square in last-eight tie

Zhao Xintong battled back to draw level with Shaun Murphy in a thrilling evening of quarter-final action in the world championship at the Crucible.

Zhao, the defending champion, showed his ruthless streak to finish the session with a flourish as the rivals ended deadlocked at 8-8 – the same scoreline for the night’s other last-eight showdown between Mark Allen and Barry Hawkins.